PRODUCE/DEPT LEADER

The Kroger Co.•North Las Vegas, NV

About The Position

The Produce Department Leader implements company and division policies to achieve maximum sales and profits in the produce department while demonstrating the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety. The role plans, organizes, directs, and controls department activities, and may take charge of store operations within the scope of authority when the store manager is absent. The leader oversees produce personnel and department operations, including customer service, training, salad bar operations, receiving, storage, pricing, merchandising, ordering, inventory, sanitation, and required records and reports. The position involves maintaining effective communication with store personnel and supporting company initiatives and process improvements. The role requires flexibility to work mornings, afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as work demands.

Requirements

Willingness to work flexibly mornings, afternoons, evenings, or nights as work demands, and to work weekends and holidays as needed.
Understanding of key department operations, including people management, merchandising, computer-assisted ordering, inventory management, shrink control, customer service, labor scheduling, and expense control.
Working knowledge of produce preparation and general knowledge of store operations.
Ability to communicate with employees, customers, and supervisors and to react quickly to changing priorities and demands.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Ability to make intelligent decisions quickly.
Ability to handle stressful situations tactfully and calmly and make a positive impression on associates and customers.
Abilities and skills for effective production, merchandising, and customer service related to merchandise sales.

Nice To Haves

Produce work experience or similar experience in food preparation.
Past work record reflecting dependability and integrity.

Responsibilities

Develop customer relations through personal example of friendliness and courtesy and implementation of company policies.
Assist with store security and handle customer complaints.
Make recommendations concerning the hiring, firing, disciplining, demoting, transferring, and evaluating of produce department personnel.
Indoctrinate department employees and ensure they can read scales and prices correctly.
Train employees in price marking, customer courtesy, and productivity, and ensure skills are properly applied.
Supervise all aspects of salad bar operations.
Discuss efficient and practical schedules for full-time and part-time employees with the store manager.
Maintain a personable, clean, and neat appearance among department employees and ensure proper uniforms and identification.
Maintain good communication with store personnel.
Plan, organize, direct, and control produce department activities; may take charge of store operations in the store manager’s absence within the scope of authority.
Direct the receiving, storing, pricing, and merchandising of produce products.
Order products and supplies to maintain adequate stock and optimum department inventory levels.
Maintain, submit, and effectively use required records and reports.
Maintain housekeeping across department areas, including cleaning or defrosting cases according to schedule, cleaning floors, keeping coolers and preparation areas orderly, and properly disposing of waste and materials.
Keep adequate supplies on hand, including bags and pricing and marking equipment.
Continuously analyze department operations, including space allocation, design, displays, price marking, rotation, inventory, and personnel; make changes or recommendations to the store manager as appropriate.
Promote, communicate, and implement company initiatives and process improvements with direct reports in a positive manner.
Be prompt, tactful, calm, courteous, and professional in interactions.
Manage people and organize workloads effectively.
Perform duties assigned by the store manager and/or supervisor.
Work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment and manage conflict reasonably, cooperatively, and without confrontation.
Act honestly and with integrity regarding customer and business information.
Follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues.
Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and older adults.
Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.